The 25th Auckland Boat Show ran from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th March, with around 12,000 people visiting to view 200 boats on and off the water, and to see the wares of 150+ exhibitors.
It’s the biggest event on New Zealand’s marine calendar, an event designed by the industry for the industry, and while on the surface the focus is recreational, the commercial side of the industry was also be there in full force to meet, connect and do business – and also to interact with the latest equipment including engines and power systems, electronics, paints and antifoul coatings and more.
“The exchange rate, and our reputation for high quality craftsmanship, and our expertise at aluminium boat building in particular mean that New Zealand is in demand at the moment,” says NZ Marine Executive Director Peter Busfield, pointing to the success of our ferries, including hybrid and electric, search and rescue craft, fishing vessels, and specialist vessels used by navies, police, customs, and eco-tourism vessels around the world.
“Each year the Auckland Boat Show becomes not only a showcase of boating innovation, but also a meeting place for our commercial boat builders, naval architects, engineers, maintenance and refit specialists.”
“You don’t have to look far from home to see how well we do in these specialised areas – the 100 boats used by the New Zealand Police and Coastguard are locally built, 50 support boats were built here and shipped to Barcelona for the America’s Cup and similar boats are heading to Australia, the South Pacific and Europe – this is a market with huge potential for New Zealand.”
Latest Commercial Vessel Directory published this week
Many of these are highlighted in the 2026 Commercial Vessel Directory, a comprehensive showcase of New Zealand’s commercial boatbuilding, naval architecture, marine engineering, vessel repair, maintenance, and refit capability.
The new Directory profiles the depth of New Zealand’s commercial ship and workboat expertise and highlights the innovation, technical excellence and global competitiveness that have earned the country an international reputation for delivering world-class commercial vessels.
New Zealand’s marine industry is widely respected as one of the most innovative and efficient creators of high-technology vessels and marine equipment in the world. From advanced aluminium and composite craft to specialist workboats and complex offshore support vessels, New Zealand companies continue to deliver robust, high-performance solutions to demanding operators both nationally and worldwide.
While member companies operate independently, the Commercial Vessels Group provides a coordinated ‘umbrella’ under the leadership of the NZ Marine Industry Association. This structure presents the collective capability of the sector as a formidable, integrated one-stop-shop for commercial vessel projects and services. By working collaboratively, member companies can deliver comprehensive, turnkey solutions to both domestic and international markets with greater efficiency and scale.
New Zealand’s favourable exchange rate further enhances the country’s competitiveness, while the quality of build ensures exceptional longevity and whole-of-life value for operators investing in New Zealand-built vessels.
Members of the New Zealand Marine Commercial Vessels Group provide products and services across a broad spectrum of commercial vessel operations, including:
• Ferries – passenger and vehicular – hybrid & electric
• Search and rescue craft
• RHIBs and tenders
• Fishing vessels
• Harbour support craft
• Cruise, charter, and expedition vessels
• Police, customs, and patrol vessels
• Naval specialist surface craft
• Offshore support vessels
• Survey, seismic and research vessels
• Eco-tourism vessels
The broader New Zealand marine industry is substantial and nationally significant and the NZ Marine Industry Association represents more than 520 member companies involved in the industry nationwide. The sector contributes approximately NZ$3 billion in total sales annually, including around NZ$800 million in exports, and employs some 8,000 people across manufacturing, marine services, marina operations, and commercial marine activities.
The 2026 Commercial Vessel Directory reinforces New Zealand’s position as a trusted global partner in the design, construction, and support of advanced commercial vessels, offering operators access to proven expertise, innovation, and enduring quality.
For further information please contact:
NZ Marine Industry Association
info@nzmarine.com
https://www.nzmarine.com
